A patient is given a medication in hospital that the nurse has never heard of, though the patient has been taking it at home. What is the best course of action?

• A. Administer as prescribed
• B. Look the medication up in a drug reference
• C. Contact the patient's family
• D. Hold the medication

Answer: (B)

When a nurse encounters an unfamiliar medication, the first step is to verify its details in a trusted drug reference before giving it. This helps ensure you’re administering the right drug, at the right dose, by the correct route, and on the proper schedule. It also reveals important information about potential drug interactions, allergies, contraindications, and any special administration instructions. By confirming that the home medication matches what’s prescribed, you reduce the risk of dose errors, duplications, or dangerous interactions.

After you’ve looked it up and confirmed the particulars, you can proceed with safe steps: verify the patient’s identity, review allergies, and, if anything doesn’t align or raises questions, contact the prescriber or pharmacist for clarification. Administering a medication without this verification could cause harm, and relying on family input alone isn’t a reliable substitute for authoritative dosing and safety information. Holding the medication is only appropriate if, after checking the reference, you still have concerns or lack necessary information to proceed safely.